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Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Published on Project Noah
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9.33642, -83.6196

Field Notes

Description:

Biggest Toucan of Costa Rica, red tail undercover feathers, imposible to confuse with long chestnut and yellow bill

Habitat:

Tropical Rainforest and border edges.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)

Susana, you are an avid birder, we were waiting 5 years for new spottings, the last one and the latest were, no, not birds, but caterpillars! ;-) Welcome back!
I have listened many, many times to the strange and curious, but wonderful flute-like tunes of the several species, specially when approaching these trees mentioned below. I observed they often make the same tours in the morning and evenings. And always it was a highlight of the day to meet one directly, mostly from a long distance. And yes, Daniele is good with all these stories!
Thank you Lauren! We're here to inform and inspire. More than often I'm the bearer of bad news regarding conservation issues. At the same time, and with a more positive outlook, the natural world is a never-ending source of wonder :-)
Congratulations Susana! A very beautiful picture. I love the interesting information you give, Daniele, when you notify us of an SOTD. These are usually tree top birds in the wild. Once I was studying mosquito larvae distribution with respect to height on a radio tower in the jungle in Costa Rica. When I was at the top of the tower in the afternoons, these toucans would come in to feed. They are marvelous to watch!
Congratulations Susana, your splendid Yellow-throated Toucan is our Spotting of the Day: "As with all toucans it's hard not to notice the massive bill of this Yellow-throated Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus), our Spotting of the Day! Scientists have provided various interpretations to account for this exaggerated feature, from serving as sexual ornament to attract mates, to adaptation for handling fruit. More recently (2009), a study of toco toucans (Ramphastos toco) has provided a new explanation in which the oversized bill serves primarily as a thermoregulator. Toucans are effectively able to modify blood flow through their bill and use it as a transient thermal radiator to cool down or stay warm. Fore more information: https://buff.ly/2EgiVEb The yellow-throated toucan is found in Central and northern South America". Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603/10161020930650603/?type=3&theater&ifg=1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/1050875611399499776
Photographed
PublishedOctober 9, 2018

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